From Agaju Madugba, Katsina
The police in Katsina on Sunday rescued five persons from their abductors at Layin Minister village, Malumfashi Local Government Area.
A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said the rescue followed a distress call from the community over an invasion by a group of bandits.
According to the statement, “on August 25, 2024, at about 1000 hrs, a distress call was received at the Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters about bandits’ attack on Layin Minister Village, kidnapping five people.
“Upon receipt of the report, operatives were quickly dispatched to the scene.
“On noticing the presence of the police, the hoodlums opened fire on the operatives to which the team responded gallantly.
“All the kidnap victims were successfully rescued unhurt as the assailants succumbed to the superior firepower of the operatives and fled the scene with various degrees of bullet injuries.
“Additionally, on the same date, at about 1740 hrs, a distress call was received at Malumfashi Divisional Police Headquarters that some suspected armed bandits riding on 12 motorcycles, wielding dangerous weapons, shooting sporadically, taking advantage of the heavy downpour, attacked Marabar Kankara village.
“On receipt of the information, the DPO Malumfashi swiftly mobilized operatives and responded to the scene.
“The team gallantly engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel and successfully foiled the attack.
“In the course of scanning the scene, bodies of two neutralized suspected bandits were recovered.
“Efforts are being intensified to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects as investigations proceed.”
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, while commending the exceptional act of valor displayed by the operatives, reiterates the command’s commitment towards ensuring a better-secured Katsina State.”